[C320-list] Mast Cranes and Asymetrics.

Mon Aug 13 22:31:22 PDT 2007

Our masthead is built to accommodate two jib halyards that exit the masthead
below the headstay attachment and two wing halyards that exit the masthead
above the headstay. The boat is generally shipped with one jib halyard and
one wing halyard, which may of us use for spinnakers and gennakers. I use
both sails and have actually added another of each halyard. This enables me
to raise the spinnaker or gennaker on either side of the masthead. There is
little risk of significant chafe as long as you douse the sail on the same
side that you hoisted it on. If you hoist it on the portside wing halyard
and try to douse on the starboard side, a common occurrence when racing,
then significant chafe results unless you're careful to douse the sail
before heading up. This problem is largely overcome by the masthead crane,
which allows the lead to rotate back. If you do douse on the opposite side
from the hoist, you must remember to pass the port halyard outside the now
unfurled genoa, outside the headstay and back to the port side. If you don't
do that, you'll wrap things around the headstay and have a mess on your
hands, potentially damaged sails, people will talk about you, etc. The
masthead crane is a better solution, but I doubt most of us will benefit
from the expense. The wing halyards have worked perfectly well for many of
us.

Denny Browne
T: 310-387-2235
F: 310-316-0154
denny at dennybrowne.com

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Church
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 9:42 PM
To: C320-List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mast Cranes and Asymetrics.

Guys,

I thought the crane was also supposed to give the snuffer more room so that
it doesn't get jammed against the mast and forestay. Is that not an issue? 

In any case, the quality of the crane that is available for our mast is
terrible, and if I had it to do over, I'd try to go without it.

JeffC
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kirk McCullough 
  To: C320-List 
  Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 9:21 PM
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mast Cranes and Asymetrics.

  Ditto what Rob says, I have not needed a crane. There doesn't seem to be
any 
  chafing. I often do not hoist the asym all the way up, but it works well 
  with a full hoist also. Keep the halyard outside the jib as Rob mentions.
We 
  just did a very nice spin run on the weekend in the Gulf Islands and jibed
3 
  times over a 5 mile distance and all the jibes were smooth.

  I must say however that i sometimes have a twist in the sail when i first 
  hoist it, which usually comes out when i sheet in just after hoisting it. 
  Once or twice i have needed to drop it again and work the twist out on the

  foredeck. Sometimes the swivel at the sail head doesn't want to work.

  Anybody else have this twisting experience. I'm sure I'm part of the
problem 
  doing something wrong when i repack the sail in the bag.

  Kirk
  Boomerang #124
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Robert E. Sloat" <resloat at comcast.net>
  To: "C320-List" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
  Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 9:27 AM
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mast Cranes and Asymetrics.

  > Irv-I have benn flying a UK Flasher asymmetric and there is no problem 
  > with
  > the halyard crossing the forestay on jibes. I don't have a crane and
after 
  > 4
  > seasons of fairly regular use there is no chafing of the spinnaker
haylard 
  > of any of the
  > spinnaker gear.  If you were using the spinnaker for days at a time,
there
  > may be some benefit in using a crane and the additional equipment to
keep 
  > the sock away from the mast and
  > possibly prevent chafing of the halyard.
  >
  > The spinnaker halyard exits the mast above the forestay fitting so the
  > spinnaker halyard clears the forestay if properly connected to the
  > spinnaker.  The key when launching is to make sure that the spinnaker
  > halyard is in front of the forestay and does not pass through the
  > foretriangle.
  >
  > For the folks who added a crane, did you have to install an exit hole
and 
  > fitting in the mast for the spinnaker halyard going to the crane block?
  >
  > Bob Sloat
  > Savannah Hull 894
  >
  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: "Irv Grunes" <igrunes at comcast.net>
  > To: "C320-List" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
  > Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 10:03 AM
  > Subject: [C320-list] Mast Cranes and Asymetrics.
  >
  >
  >>
  >> Hi,
  >>
  >> We are still looking at Asymetrics.  Looking for any comments on my 
  >> scheme
  >> below to eliminte the need for a crane.
  >>
  >> Found this Quantun website:
  >>
  >> http://www.quantumsails.com/pdf/asymmetrical%20trim%20guide.pdf
  >>
  >> I sent this to my sailing partner:
  >>
============================================================================
  >> ===================
  >>
  >> BUT the Quantum article says:
  >>
  >> --------------------------------------------------------------
  >> What equipment do I need?
  >>
  >> . Spinnaker halyard that is above
  >>
  >> the forestay.
  >>
  >> ------------------------------------------------------------
  >>
  >> I am not sure of this BUT
  >>
  >> I think that our forestay goes to the top of the mast.
  >>
  >> I think the sheave for the spinnaker halyard is below it and lets
assume
  >> that it is on the port side.
  >>
  >> Then flying an asym on the port side, the halyard would not be in
contact
  >> with the forestay.
  >>
  >> Then if jibeing the asym to the starboard side, the halyard would have
to
  >> cross over the forestay and would probably chafe.
  >>
  >> As I think about it, I think the solution would be something like our
  >> backstay adjuster that has the ball on the line to keep the thimble
from
  >> pulling up into the sheave.  If a stopper ball were put on the halyard,
a
  >> knot on the halyard to hold the stopper ball, and then 8 inches or so
of
  >> chafe guard were put on the halyard and then the shackle to the
halyard.
  >>
  >> Then the sail would be hoisted that 8 inches or so lower, but when
jibed,
  >> the chafe guard would protect the halyard from the forestay.
  >>
  >> This would eliminate the requirement for a crane and allow us to use
the
  >> spinnaker halyard safely.
  >>
  >> I will bounce this off the list to see what response we get.
  >>
  >> Irv
  >>
  >>
  >>
  >>
  >>
  >>
  >>
  >>
  >>
  >> -----Original Message-----
  >> From: Bob Seiden [mailto:theseidens at earthlink.net]
  >> Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 8:18 PM
  >> To: Irv Grunes
  >> Subject: Re: Asym's
  >>
  >>
  >> Bob
  >>
  >> Requesting quotes from a lot of the lofts.  Will keep you posted on the
  >> quotes.
  >>
  >> Saw this at the quantum website.  See for setting and dousing
  >>
  >> http://www.quantumsails.com/pdf/asymmetrical%20trim%20guide.pdf
  >>
  >>
  >>
  >> READ IT!
  >>
  >>
  >> We want it for running in light air.  That would seem to mean the
middle
  >> sail.
  >>
  >>
  >> The diagrams seem to suggest that the head of the asymmetrical comes
well
  >> below the top of the mast.  Especially with a sock, that should keep
the
  >> head of the sail well away from anything it could chafe on.
  >>
  >>
  >> Quantum says absolutely nothing about a crane.
  >>
  >>
  >> me
  >>
  >>
  >>
  >
  >
  >
  >
  > -- 
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